Walks With Sam
A Man, a Dog, and a Season of Awakening
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- 4,99 €
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- 4,99 €
Publisher Description
A man, his dog, and a long walk can lead to unexpected discoveries. In the tradition of many literary walkers, David W. Berner sets out on foot hoping to reexamine his life, look back and forward, and most importantly, through the help of his young dog, Sam, try to find harmony in new beginnings and the uncertainties of the present. In a series of chapters, each dedicated to one walk during a summer of hiking, the author finds that it is his beloved pet that allows him to awaken to a new spirit of mindfulness, finding beauty, wonder, and comfort in the ordinary, and to see a life, a neighborhood, and even a country with brand new eyes. 'With gentle humor and brilliant musings, both past and present, Walks With Sam has the charm and the innate truthfulness that some find in a work of art, a daily quest tinged with wonder and mystery with each forward step.' L.B.Johnson, author of The Book of Barkley.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Novelist and memoirist Berner (A Well-Respected Man) reflects on life, love, dogs, and other topics in these charming essays. On sabbatical and facing the realities of aging, Berner embarks on a close-to-home "pilgrimage" along suburban sidewalks with his goldendoodle Sam to better get to know both the dog and himself. Each essay is full of sharp observations of the neighborhood and the human-canine dynamic: Berner muses on a "crazy" neighbor whose yard is decorated with "a baby carriage, an axe, an inflatable whale"; handprints in the sidewalk ("we all want people to recognize we spent time on this Earth"); the hygiene of dogs and humans before one of Sam's grooming appointment; and getting angry when Sam is uncooperative. By the end of his season of exploration, Berner comes to realize: "This is what I do. I see. I hear. I am.... I love my wife, I cherish my sons, I adore my dog." It isn't profound, but Berner's plainspoken manner reveals moments of true enlightenment. Dog lovers and spiritualists will adore this.
